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South Africa moves into ascendancy

Despite Taylor’s defensive tactics, visitor reaches 201 for 4 at stumps on day two in reply to Zimbabwe’s 256

Faf du Plessis scored an unbeaten 69 to help South Africa to 201 for 4 on the second day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe.

Faf du Plessis scored an unbeaten 69 to help South Africa to a position of strength on Sunday (August 10), the second day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare. South Africa ended proceedings on 201 for 4, just 55 runs behind Zimbabwe's first-innings total of 256.

South Africa had to take the initiative to score runs due to the slow nature of the Harare Sports Club pitch, coupled with the Zimbabwe bowlers' negative line.

Dean Elgar, the opener, laid a solid platform, scoring 61. Elgar featured in two important partnerships, first putting on 57 with Alviro Petersen (32) for the opening wicket, before adding another 75 with du Plessis.

Zimbabwe's bowlers stuck to a tight line and length thereafter as South Africa lost the wickets of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, in an attempt to force the pace, and slid to 157 for 4.

Amla took 27 balls for his four runs before driving a Tendai Chatara delivery straight into the hands of the fielder at cover. John Nyumbu then accounted for de Villiers, who was caught at mid-wicket for 7 off 34 balls.

Du Plessis, who took 31 balls after the tea break to score the two runs he required for his half-century, added just 21 runs from 81 balls in the final session. Quinton de Kock, however, scored relatively freely, and ended the day unbeaten on 27 off 48 balls.

Earlier, Dale Steyn completed his 24th five-wicket haul in Test cricket to wrap up the Zimbabwe innings. Steyn had Nyumbu, Zimbabwe's No. 11, caught behind in the fourth over of the day as the host, resuming on 248 runs, managed to add just eight runs to its overnight tally.

Steyn's 5 for 46 also meant that he now has a five-wicket haul against every Test-playing nation.